Angled Rolled Plan Rack

ABSTRACT

A angled rolled plan rack is provided that includes a series of angled shelves supported by a frame that is particularly suited to hold a quantity of rolled large format drawings such as architectural plans, engineering drawings and the like. The shelves are angled toward the rear of the frame so that gravity holds the rolled plans on the rack. A multiplicity of rack assemblies, one on the right and the other on the left, hang on a vertical surface (such as wall) or are placed on a horizontal surface (such as a floor or desk) and complement each other forming a support for rolled plans. This configuration permits the title block on the rolled plans to be easily visible for identification and easy removal of a rolled plan while retaining the ability to store a large number of rolled plans in a compact and efficient form. Variations of the angled rolled plan rack include a closed front, a semi-open front and a gated front and various mounting means.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to storage racks, and more particularly, to a storage rack with angled shelves suited for, large print media, rolls of paper plans or drawings.

2. Description of the Related Art

Several designs for shelving or rack systems have been designed in the past. None of them, however, includes an angled rack that holds numerous large format rolled plans oriented in a manner that allows easy viewing of the label to identify the plans while retaining the ability to easily remove any selected plan without removing other plans held in the rack or other undue difficulty.

Applicant believes that the closest reference corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 262,556 issued to Bailey. However, it differs from the present invention because the Bailey device is limited to fixed width applications, does not allow for multiple plans to be supported by each shelf, does not have any means to prevent plans from falling off the front of the shelf, is not adaptable to a panel mount configuration and is not adaptable for varying width of plans.

Another related reference corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 5,394,995 issued to Lusk. However, it differs from the present invention because the Lusk device is limited to fixed width applications, only allows for a single layer of plans to be supported by each shelf, does not have sufficient means to prevent plans from falling off the front of the shelf, is not adaptable to a panel mount configuration and is floor mounted which unnecessarily uses too much space.

Other patents describing the closest subject matter provide for a number of more or less complicated features that fail to solve the problem in an efficient and economical way. None of these patents suggest the novel features of the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is one of the main objects of the present invention to provide a rolled plan rack that has the capacity to hold many rolled plans or other large format print media on each of a multiplicity of angled shelves. An added advantage is that each individual plan's title block may be easily seen and identified.

It is another object of this invention to provide a rolled plan rack that while supporting many rolled plans each individual plan may be easily accessed from the rack without removing or disturbing the plans remaining on the rack.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a rack for rolled plans or other large format rolled print media that allows easy organization of many plans on a single rack and permits the replacement of plans in an orientation that displays the title block of the plans for simple identification of any plan on the rack.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a rack to hold large format rolled media that is adaptable to be mounted on a variety of different types of substrates such as a wall, systems furniture partition or displays and at varying widths to support a wide variety of differently sized media.

It is another object of the present invention to provide enhanced storage capacity of plans and/or other printed media using minimal floor space.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide such a device that is inexpensive to manufacture and maintain while retaining its effective function.

Further objects of the invention will be brought out in the following part of the specification, wherein detailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosing the invention without placing limitations thereon.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

With the above and other related objects in view, the invention consists in the details of construction and combination of parts as will be more fully understood from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 represents a perspective view of a variation of the invention as it could be used with several rolls of large format media.

FIG. 2 shows a side elevation view of an angled rolled plan rack similar to that demonstrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates a detailed perspective view of a portion of an angled rolled plan rack and a slotted bracket forming an attachment means.

FIG. 4 is a representation of partial perspective view of an alternate shelf configuration.

FIG. 5 shows a partial perspective view of a gated shelf front variation of the device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, where the present invention is generally referred to in FIG. 1 with numeral 10, it can be observed that it basically includes, inter alia, a front frame 12, a rear frame 14 and shelves 16. Rolled plans 18 are shown to demonstrate a potential use of the device. A frame assembly 11 is comprised of a front frame 12, a rear frame 14 and a multiplicity of shelves 16.

The variation of the angled rolled plan rack as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is comprised of at least two frame assemblies 11, one on the right and the other on the left. It is possible that for some applications three, four or more frame assemblies 11 may be used in concert if needed to support additional weight or wider printed media. Each frame assembly 11 has a rear frame 14 that when in use is oriented vertically and is substantially parallel to the front frame 12. On each frame assembly 11 spanning between the rear frame 14 and front frame 12 are a multiplicity of shelves 16. Each of the shelves 16 is parallel to the other shelves 16 on the same frame assembly 11.

On each frame assembly 11 the shelves 16 are rigidly connected to the rear frame 14 and front frame 12 to form a unitary frame assembly 11. Each of the shelves 16 is affixed to the front frame 12 and rear frame 14 at an angle so that when in use the edge of the shelf 16 nearer the rear frame 14 is lower than the edge of the shelf 16 nearer the front frame 12. The angle between the shelf 16 and rear frame 14 is preferably in the range between 89 degrees and 30 degrees. The corresponding angle between the shelf 16 and the front frame 12 is supplementary to the angle between the shelf 12 and rear frame 14.

With the angles of the shelves 16 in this configuration any rolls of plans 18 will be held against the shelf 16 by gravity and tend to be held against the rear of the shelf 16 nearer the rear frame 14. A user of the angled rolled plan rack can rotate the title block on the plans into an orientation that allows easy visibility of the title block to identify a particular roll of plans or drawings.

In typical use, a multiplicity of frame assemblies 11 are affixed to a vertical surface such as a wall, systems furniture panels or display substrate at the rear frame 14. The rear frame 14 of each frame assembly 11 is mounted parallel to the corresponding frame assembly 11 of the set. The rear frame 14 may optionally have holes along its length to accept screws, nails, molly bolts or other fasteners with sufficient strength to hold the frame assemblies 11 onto the vertical surface.

FIG. 3 shows in more detail an alternative means of mounting the frame assembly 11 to a vertical surface including, inter alia, a rear frame 14, a shelf 16, a hook 20, a bracket 22, a slot 24 and a fastener 26. Generally, a pair of brackets 22, one for each of a pair of frame assemblies, are vertically affixed to a wall or other vertical surface using a fastener 26 such as a screw, nail, molly bolt or other commonly available means. Said pair of brackets 22 are preferably aligned parallel to each other to ensure that when the rear frame 14 is mounted to the brackets 22 the corresponding shelves 16 on each of the pair of frame assemblies are substantially equidistant. In some applications it may be necessary to use more than a pair of bracket 22 to support the items held by the plan rack for this variation or any of the variations of the invention described herein.

One or more hooks 20 are present along the length of the rear frame 14 on the opposite side of the rear frame 14 as the shelves 16 so that when said hooks 20 are engaged into said slots 24 the rear frame 14 is sufficiently supported so that the invention is effectively mounted to the wall or other vertical support surface and held in place by gravity. With multiple slots 24 along the length of the brackets 22 the device may be hung at various heights to suit a variety of different needs and users.

Each of the brackets 22 may be as short as to provide only a single slot 24 or may be as long as the height of the wall onto which the brackets 22 are mounted or any length in between. The length of the brackets 22 should preferably be longer and have more fasteners 26 the greater the expected load placed onto the shelves 16. In an embodiment the length of bracket 22 is substantially the same length as the rear frame 14.

The brackets 22 may be integrated into a modular panel system as is commonly used in offices. A modular panel system is sometimes referred to as office partitions or systems furniture panels. Modular panel systems often use a standardized width panel with an integrated bracket and slot system designed for affixing a variety of shelves, cabinets, desks or other office accoutrements. Said hook 20 may be dimensioned to engage into a typical bracket and slot system used on common modular panel and display systems.

As an alternative to the hook 20 and bracket 22 system demonstrated in FIG. 3 there may be one or more bores along the length of the rear frame 14 so that a fastener, such as a screw, nail, molly bolt or other common fastener, may affix the rear frame 14 to a vertical surface. Other means to attach the rear frame 14 to a vertical surface, such as a wall, may include magnets, hook and loop fasteners or adhesive along the length of the rear frame 14. In another variation not shown in the drawings there may be feet affixed to the bottom shelf 16 or rear frame 14 so that the frame assemblies 11 are supported by a horizontal surface such as the floor, a desk top or on top of cabinets.

Now referring to FIG. 4 where a variation of the invention is shown to include, inter alia, a frame assembly 27 comprised of a rear frame 14, shelves 28 and lips 30. It should be appreciated that FIG. 4 shows only a portion of the invention. The invention would typically include between 2 and 20 shelves 28. In typical use, a pair of frame assemblies 27 are mounted parallel onto a vertical surface, such as a wall. Each frame assembly 27 works together with a corresponding frame assembly 27 to support rolls of drawings such as the rolled plans 18 as shown in FIG. 1.

The frame assembly 27 shown in FIG. 4 differs from the frame assembly 11 shown in FIG. 1 in that the lip 30 is substituted for the front frame 12. Lip 30 acts to prevent rolls of plans from falling off the shelf 28 and also provides for an easy means to remove selected rolled plans from the shelf 28.

The variation of the invention shown in FIG. 4 may be desirable in a location where there is limited space where the frame assembly 27 is mounted so that the rolls of drawings may be removed directly off the front of the shelf 28 instead of removing the rolls of drawings by shifting them to the side of the front frame 12.

The distance that the lip 30 protrudes from the shelf 28 may vary from just far enough so that a single roll of drawings cannot fall from the front of the shelf 28 or nearly all the way to the next shelf 28 above with enough space so that a roll of drawings may still be easily removed from the front of the shelf assembly 27.

In an alternate variation of the device a stretchable cord such a bungee-type cord may be used in conjunction with, or as a substitute for, the lips 30 to hold rolled print media or other items placed on the shelves 28 and keep them from falling off the shelf 28. The stretchable cord optionally may be affixed at one end to the uppermost lip 30 on a shelf assembly 27 and removably affixed, for example with a hook or other commonly available fastening means, to the bottommost lip 30 on the same shelf assembly 27. When a user of the device wishes to remove an object held on any of the shelves 28 they first detach one end of the stretchable cord so that the object can be easily removed. The stretchable cord is then re-affixed so that the shelf 28 contents are held in place. It should be understood that either or both uppermost and bottommost end of the stretchable cord may be removably or permanently affixed to the respective lip 30.

FIG. 5 demonstrates another variation of a frame assembly 31 that includes, inter alia, a clip 32, a gate 34, a hinge 36, a catch 38 and shelves 40. It should be appreciated that only a portion of the frame assembly is shown and that more shelves 40 may occur both above and/or below the shelves 40 shown in FIG. 5. In a typical configuration there may be between 2 and 20 shelves on each frame assembly.

Generally, the distinctive feature of the variation of the invention as shown in FIG. 5 is the hinged gate 34 that may be opened or closed about hinge 36. The gate 34 may be selectively locked and unlocked by means of a clip 32 and catch 38 that interact to prevent unintended opening of the gate 34. The hinge 36 design demonstrated in FIG. 5 has sufficient play in the hinge 36 to allow the clip 32 to securely engage the catch 38 and yet remain selectively removable to permit disengagement of the clip 32 and catch 38 so that the gate 34 may be opened to allow access and removal of any rolled plans supported by the shelf 40.

As with any of the variations of frame assemblies described herein, a typical installation would require a pair of frame assemblies each holding about half the weight of any rolls of drawings stored thereon. Of course, for some applications it may be beneficial to utilize in combination different styles or variations of frame assemblies 11, 27 and/or 31 depending on the environment, application and needs of a user of the invention.

Any of the disclosed variations of the invention may have an additional support feature that rigidly connects two adjacent rear frames 14 parallel to each other and at a fixed distance from each other. This forms complimentary left and right shelves 16 to support a rolled plan 18 horizontally between two shelves 16, one near each end of the rolled plan 18.

In addition to rolled plans, the invention could effectively also hold other relatively long and narrow objects such as rolls of wall paper, fabric, carpets or rugs, rods or dowels or the like.

The various elements of the angled rolled plan rack are preferably made of rigid and durable materials such as metal, wood, composite, plastic or other synthetic materials so that the invention maintains its structural form while under load from multiple rolls of plans or other materials being supported.

A preferred variation of the invention may be describes as an angled rolled plan rack comprising a pair of frame assemblies each having a first vertical frame member and a second vertical frame member; said first vertical frame member is parallel to said second vertical frame member on each frame assembly; a plurality of parallel shelves are disposed between said first vertical frame member and said second vertical frame member at predetermined intervals for each of the pair of frame assemblies; each of said shelves on a frame assembly are parallel to the other shelves on the same frame assembly; said shelves are angled relative to said first vertical frame member such that when said first vertical frame member is affixed to a vertical surface the edge of each shelf nearer said first vertical frame member is lower than the edge of the same shelf nearer the second vertical frame member.

In a variation the device may be further characterized in that said second vertical frame member is operatively hinged where each of said shelves intersect with said second vertical frame member.

In another variation the device may be further characterized in that said second vertical frame member is segmented and forms a lip above each shelf where said shelf intersects with said second vertical support member.

In yet another variation it may be further characterized in that each frame assembly comprising said pair of frame assemblies are rigidly fixed to each other at a predetermined distance and such that said first vertical support member and said second vertical support member are parallel.

Another preferred variation of an angled rolled plan rack may be comprised of first frame assembly and a second frame assembly said first frame assembly and said second frame assembly are substantially mirror images of each other; said first frame assembly is further comprised of a front frame, a rear frame and between two and twenty shelves; each of said shelves is connected on a first end to the front frame and on a second end to the rear frame; said second frame assembly is further comprised of a front frame, a rear frame and between two and twenty shelves; each of said shelves is connected on a first end to the front frame and on a second end to the rear frame; said rear frame of said first frame assembly and said rear frame of said second frame assembly are provided with a means to affix each respective frame assembly to any vertical coplanar surface or coplanar surface combination of a wall, office partition, modular panel system, cabinet or a door; each of said shelves on the first frame assembly are parallel to each other and each of said shelves on the second frame assembly are parallel to each other; each of said second ends of said shelves on both the first frame assembly and the second frame assembly intersect their respective rear frame at an angle of between thirty and eighty-nine degrees so that when the rear frame is affixed to said vertical coplanar surface said second end of each of said shelves is lower than the first end of each of said shelves.

In an alternative the an angled rolled plan rack can be further characterized in that the front frame on the first frame assembly and/or the second frame assembly are segmented between adjacent shelves and are hingedly affixed at one end to the said first end of each of said shelves.

In another variation the rack can be further characterized in that the front frame on the first frame assembly and/or the second frame assembly are segmented between adjacent shelves and are affixed at a lower end of said segments to the said first end of each of said shelves and do not extend far enough to contact the shelf immediately above forming a lip.

The foregoing description conveys the best understanding of the objectives and advantages of the present invention. Different embodiments may be made of the inventive concept of this invention. It is to be understood that all matter disclosed herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense. 

1. An angled rolled plan rack comprising a pair of frame assemblies each having a first vertical frame member and a second vertical frame member said first vertical frame member is parallel to said second vertical frame member on each frame assembly a plurality of parallel shelves are disposed between said first vertical frame member and said second vertical frame member at predetermined intervals for each of the pair of frame assemblies each of said shelves on a frame assembly are parallel to the other shelves on the same frame assembly said shelves are angled relative to said first vertical frame member such that when said first vertical frame member is affixed to a vertical surface the edge of each shelf nearer said first vertical frame member is lower than the edge of the same shelf nearer the second vertical frame member.
 2. An angled rolled plan rack as disclosed in claim 1 further characterized in that said second vertical frame member is operatively hinged where each of said shelves intersect with said second vertical frame member.
 3. An angled rolled plan rack as disclosed in claim 1 further characterized in that said second vertical frame member is segmented and forms a lip above each shelf where said shelf intersects with said second vertical support member.
 4. An angled rolled plan rack as disclosed in claim 1 further characterized in that each frame assembly comprising said pair of frame assemblies are rigidly fixed to each other at a predetermined distance and such that said first vertical support member and said second vertical support member are parallel.
 5. An angled rolled plan rack comprised of first frame assembly and a second frame assembly said first frame assembly and said second frame assembly are substantially mirror images of each other; said first frame assembly is further comprised of a front frame, a rear frame and between two and twenty shelves; each of said shelves is connected on a first end to the front frame and on a second end to the rear frame; said second frame assembly is further comprised of a front frame, a rear frame and between two and twenty shelves; each of said shelves is connected on a first end to the front frame and on a second end to the rear frame; said rear frame of said first frame assembly and said rear frame of said second frame assembly are provided with a means to affix each respective frame assembly to any vertical coplanar surface or coplanar surface combination of a wall, office partition, modular panel system, cabinet or a door; each of said shelves on the first frame assembly are parallel to each other and each of said shelves on the second frame assembly are parallel to each other; each of said second ends of said shelves on both the first frame assembly and the second frame assembly intersect their respective rear frame at an angle of between thirty and eighty-nine degrees so that when the rear frame is affixed to said vertical coplanar surface said second end of each of said shelves is lower than the first end of each of said shelves.
 6. An angled rolled plan rack as disclosed in claim 5 further characterized in that the front frame on the first frame assembly and/or the second frame assembly are segmented between adjacent shelves and are hingedly affixed at one end to the said first end of each of said shelves.
 7. An angled rolled plan rack as disclosed in claim 5 further characterized in that the front frame on the first frame assembly and/or the second frame assembly are segmented between adjacent shelves and are affixed at a lower end of said segments to the said first end of each of said shelves and do not extend far enough to contact the shelf immediately above forming a lip. 